Chapter Four- The Complaint of Chaucer to his Glass

[thetrudger]

Filtered to all children aged thirteen and below
Hello. My name is Geoffrey Chaucer. I’m conducting a survey of sorts, and I was hoping you would participate. I would just like to know your name and age. I’d also like to know about your stay at Paradisa.
/Filter

Filtered to Sherlock
Pardon me, sir. I wonder if you could conduct your experiments and other loud activities at a more decent time. It has come to my attention that you’re keeping other residents up at night.
/Filter

Filtered to Conan
Has the noise stopped?
/Filter

[He writes the following slowly, frustrated and bored.]
To you, my friends, I do apply
For an answer to my cry.
Does not the wine taste awry?
I drink and drink, yet no ill effect
Happens that I can detect.
Sober as the day I was born,
I raise my tasteless glass, and mourn.

This castle seems to have done me in,
For it will not allow me a single sin
I know I shall be quite forlorn
If I am forced into celibacy in the morn.

[Geoff is sitting in the library, writing the above poem, and working on other writing. He’s a bit annoying, knocking his foot against the table, ripping up parchment and throwing it to the side, and muttering to himself. He’s also a tad grouchy today. He’s been drinking to control the withdrawal symptoms from not gambling. He has a glass of wine next to him that he keeps testing every few minutes, making faces whenever he does. ]

[ooc: Loss start! Open over journals or in person! As it says, he’s grouchy. You have been warned. Also, if I’ve dropped any convos by accident, give me a poke. I’ve been sick, and I think a few fell through the cracks.]

Comments

[thetrudger]

[When he speaks, it's muffled from the table.]

No gambling. No alcohol.

[lord_wizard]

Ah...I see what you mean.

Perhaps you should make haste to indulge in that third vice after all. Or find a new form of distraction.

[thetrudger]

Believe me, Felix. Believe me. If I could get a woman in my bed, I would do so happily.

I can't gamble. I can't drink. I can't get a single woman here to give me a second glance. And my writing's a laugh.

[Here, Felix. Have all of Geoff's problems. XD]

[lord_wizard]

I have no opinions as to your artistic merits, but I'm sure you can be very charming when you're purposefully not being obnoxious.

[Were you expecting sympathy?]

[thetrudger]

No "poor, poor Chaucer"?

[He's come to expect it with all the super duper nice people who'd talked with him earlier. He sighs.]

No fair, Felix. What am I supposed to do with that answer.

[lord_wizard]

[Felix isn't all that nice.]

Self-evaluate? What good will coddling you do?

[thetrudger]

I suppose I should have complained to someone nicer. Or at least someone who would give a shit.

[lord_wizard]

[Don't push him]

Geoffrey, darling, if you think platitudes will help you, you're severely mistaken. You think I don't care because I'm not willing to tell you everything will be fine? That is, to borrow a slur, "bollocks". The castle does this sort of thing to people all the time. It's never convenient and it will certainly ruin your week if you let it.

[thetrudger]

[Geoff sputters unintelligibly for a moment. It hurt to be told to grow up, whether he really needed to or not.]

Well, you! You...

[He doesn't know how he was going to finish that. Instead, he'll give the journal a shove and cross his arms.]

[lord_wizard]

Indignation doesn't suit you.

[thetrudger]

I'm frustrated! How else should I act?!

[lord_wizard]

If you're frustrated, then by all means, be frustrated, but if that's all you can come up with to handle it, I'm severely disappointed. You're a writer, be creative. Do something about it instead of whining.

ahhh so long, sorry ;;

[thetrudger]

Whining?!

[He reaches for the glass of wine, then takes his hand away with a growl when he remembers.

Okay, maybe he was whining. But he was allowed to under the circumstances, right? He sits there silently for a moment, letting Felix's words sift through his brain. He was right, sitting there wouldn't help.

He gets up and goes to the shelves, picking books at random. He would simply read everything he could get his hands on. He's so intent on this decision, he forgets to say anything to Felix.]

never be sorry

[lord_wizard]

[Felix takes the silence as a sign that Geoff has quit the conversation]

When you're done allowing your vices to run your life, you know where to find me.